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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 24, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 24, 2012
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. My tastings are based on MVC (Modal
Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices
are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does
NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers or product
consultants. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-tasting.
 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
 
Lomond Syrah 2008 WO Cape Agulhas South Africa: delicious North Rhone
affordable flavours, great syrah hit (blackberries, leather, violets),
14% ABV. +146464, $18.95, QPR: 91.
 
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
 
Massena The Eleventh Hour Shiraz 2006 Barossa, +39073, $48.95.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. First Press Chardonnay 2010 Napa: a wooded chardonnay, like an
elegant Burgundian, not tiresome after a glass or two. 14% ABV, cork
finish. +199810, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Nugan King Valley Frasca's Lane Chardonnay 2009 King Valley
Victoria: a mid-weight chardonnay with spice box complexity. 13.5% ABV,
basic MVC. +288191, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough: a Kiwi savvy, good
regional zest, 13.5% ABV, twist top, MVC all the way. +734798, $18.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Pierre Sparr Reserve Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: off-dry, delicious
spicy complexity, concentrated grapefruit and lychee MVC, 13.5% ABV.
+747600, $17.95, QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Howling Moon Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 Lodi: soft and fruity, but long
length, aged well, MVC for zinfandel, 13.5% ABV. +57356, $18.95, QPR:
89.
2. Santa Carolina Specialties Dry Farming Carignan 209 Cauquenes Valley
Chile: intense dark frit tones, modest price, 15% ABV, an 80 year old
vineyard. +213520, $15.95
3. Chateau Haut-Bertinerie Elegance Merlot/Cabernet 2009 Blaye Cotes de
Bordeaux: good modest wine to lay down for a few years, from the fabled
2009 vintage. +295857, $18.95, QPR: 90.
4. N. Potel Maison Roche de Bellene Cuvee Reserve Bourgogne 2010:
quality at this price level? Yes, we all tried bottle #7889 of 24,500
bottles. It was value at entry level, with great notes on the back
label. Open it up to air but serve it on the next day (or double
decant). +299859, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine Langlois-Chateau Saumur-Champigny 2010: delicate cabernet
franc tones, MVC, 13.5% ABV. +7179, $17.95, QPR: 89.
6. Mas Estela Quindals 2007 Emporda Spain: organic wine with a hit of
fruit flavours, bursting in fact. 15% ABV, hot finish. +133033, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
 
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
 
1. Stratus White 2009 VQA NOTL, +660704, $44.20 retail.
2. Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Napa, +707224, 39.95
3. Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay 2009 Russian River Valley Sonoma,
+210039, $34.95
4. Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumes 1er Cru 2008,
+299933, $69.95
5. Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2009 VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Niagara, +34553, $75
6. Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa, +118695, $38.95.
7. Santa Helena Vemus Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Colchagua Valley, $24.95
8. Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2006, +287235, $28.95
9. Rust en Vrede Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 WO Stellenbosch,
+921767, $24.95
10. Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006, +685180, $24.95.
11. Senorio de P. Pecina Reserva 2001 Rioja, +82156, $29.95
 

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